High Fidelity (2000)

Director:

Stephen Frears

Writers (WGA):

Nick Hornby (book)
D.V. DeVincentis (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

31 March 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Music | Romance

Tagline:

A comedy about fear of commitment, hating your job, falling in love and other pop favorites.

Plot:

Rob, a record store owner and compulsive list maker, recounts his top five breakups, including the one in progress.

Plot Keywords:

Record Store | Store | Pop Music | Vinyl | Song

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 wins & 18 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sat. Jan. 2

11:20 AM

TBS

Cast

John Cusack	...	Rob Gordon
Iben Hjejle	...	Laura
Todd Louiso	...	Dick
Jack Black	...	Barry
Lisa Bonet	...	Marie De Salle
Catherine Zeta-Jones	...	Charlie Nicholson
Joan Cusack	...	Liz
Tim Robbins	...	Ian 'Ray' Raymond
Chris Rehmann	...	Vince
Ben Carr	...	Justin
Lili Taylor	...	Sarah Kendrew
Joelle Carter	...	Penny Hardwick
Natasha Gregson Wagner	...	Caroline Fortis
Shannon Stillo	...	Alison Jr. High
Drake Bell	...	Rob Jr. High
Laura Whyte	...	Laura's Mom
Sara Gilbert	...	Anaugh
Rich Talarico	...	Barry's Customer
Matthew O'Neill	...	Beta Band Customer
Brian Powell	...	Middle Aged Customer
Margaret Travolta	...	Rob's Mom
Jill Peterson	...	Laura's Sister Jo
Dick Cusack	...	Minister
Susan Yoo	...	Girl - 19 Year Old
Chris Bauer	...	Paul
K.K. Dodds	...	Miranda
Marilyn Dodds Frank	...	Alison's Mom
Duke Doyle	...	Kevin Bannister
Aaron Himelstein	...	Boy in Park
Jonathan Herrington	...	Chris Thompson
Daniel Lee Smith	...	Rock Guy
Leah Gale	...	Mourner
David Darlow	...	Mourner
Erik Gundersen	...	Marco
Bruce Springsteen	...	Himself
Alex Désert	...	Louis (as Alex Desert)
Alan S. Johnson	...	Man in Store
Ian Belknap	...	Party Guest
Andrew Micheli	...	Party Guest
Polly Noonan	...	Party Guest
Philip Rayburn Smith	...	Party Guest
Michele Graff	...	Party Guest
Susie Cusack	...	Party Guest
Liam Hayes	...	Piano Player
Damian Rogers	...	Greenday Girl
Robert A. Villanueva	...	Skateboarder
Joe Spaulding	...	Flea Market Musician
Scott A. Martin	...	Bartender
Heather Norris	...	Laura's Friend
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Harold Ramis	...	Rob's Dad (scenes deleted)
James Azrael	...	Glam Rocker (uncredited)
Julie DiJohn	...	Rock Club Patron (uncredited)
Jennifré DuMont	...	Pedestrian (uncredited)
Mark Finney	...	Record Store Customer (uncredited)
Reese Foster	...	Cafe' Patron (uncredited)
Lisa Harrison	...	Cafe Patron (uncredited)
Susan Hegarty	...	Voice of Laura's Mom (uncredited)
Ian Michaels	...	Guy in Chem Lab (uncredited)
Timothy W. Tiedje	...	Operator (uncredited)

Directed by
Stephen Frears

Writing credits (WGA)
Nick Hornby		(book)
D.V. DeVincentis		(screenplay) &
Steve Pink		(screenplay) &
John Cusack		(screenplay) and
Scott Rosenberg		(screenplay)

Produced by
Tim Bevan	....	producer
Liza Chasin	....	executive producer
John Cusack	....	co-producer
D.V. DeVincentis	....	co-producer
Alan Greenspan	....	executive producer
Mike Newell	....	executive producer
Steve Pink	....	co-producer
Rudd Simmons	....	producer

Original Music by
Howard Shore

Cinematography by
Seamus McGarvey

Film Editing by
Mick Audsley

Casting by
Victoria Thomas

Production Design by
David Chapman
Thérèse DePrez		(as Therese Deprez)

Art Direction by
Nicholas Lundy

Set Decoration by
Larry Lundy

Costume Design by
Laura Cunningham		(as Laura Cunningham Bauer)

Makeup Department
Laura Connolly	....	key hair stylist
Naomi Donne	....	hair stylist: Ms. HIije
Naomi Donne	....	makeup artist: Ms. HIije
Suzy Mazzarese-Allison	....	hair stylist
Vicki Vacca	....	makeup artist
Jeanne Van Phue	....	key makeup artist
Denise Wynbrandt	....	key makeup artist
Connie Kallos	....	additional hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Tania Blunden	....	post-production supervisor (as Tania Windsor Blunden)
Billy Higgins	....	unit production manager
Michelle Wright	....	executive in charge of production: Working Title Films

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Anne Berger	....	second second assistant director
Aiman A. Humaideh	....	assistant director (as Aiman Humaideh)
Jeffrey Wetzel	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Terry Baughman	....	construction coordinator
Phil Ellman	....	on-set dresser
Joanna S. Frank	....	art department assistant (as Joanna Mickey)
Tom Gagnon	....	swing gang
Michael D. Gianneschi	....	assistant property master
Ron Kane	....	construction foreman
Derrick Kardos	....	art department coordinator
Derrick Kardos	....	graphic designer
Blake E. Matthys	....	swing gang
Cyril A. Matthys	....	swing gang
Joel Prihoda	....	lead man
Jon Schluenz	....	art department assistant
Glenn Stevens	....	carpenter
Timothy W. Tiedje	....	property master

Sound Department
Howard Bargroff	....	assistant sound re-recording mixer
Tim Boot	....	live record engineer
Mark DeSimone	....	adr engineer
Carl Fischer	....	boom operator
Diane Greaves	....	foley artist
Petur Hliddal	....	production sound mixer
Alex Hudd	....	sound consultant: dolby
Terry Isted	....	foley mixer
Peter Joly	....	supervising sound editor
Danny Longhurst	....	dialogue editor
Claire Mahoney	....	foley artist
Michael Miller	....	adr mixer
Michael Redfern	....	foley editor
Adrian Rhodes	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mark Rose	....	assistant sound editor
Jason Swanscott	....	foley artist
Ted Swanscott	....	foley mixer
Jeffrey A. Williams	....	utility sound
Kevin Boyd	....	additional utility sound (uncredited)
Steve Hancock	....	sound studio technician (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Sam Barkan	....	special effects coordinator
Ray Conchado	....	special effects
Don Riozz McNichols	....	special effects foreman

Visual Effects by
Steve MacPherson	....	technical operations manager: Double Negative (uncredited)

Stunts
Thomas Coe	....	stunts
Rick Le Fevour	....	stunt coordinator
Chris Nolte	....	stunt double: John Cusack

Camera and Electrical Department
Art Bartels	....	key grip
Kevin Boyd	....	24 frame video operator
Fernando M. Briones	....	dolly grip
Travis Busenbark	....	electrician
Chad Erickson	....	camera intern
Daniel W. Fuller	....	second assistant camera
David Horenz	....	first assistant camera
Timothy Jipping	....	grip
Tom Kerwick	....	key grip
Michael Lange	....	best boy grip
Michelle M. Mann	....	assistant camera
Darryl Miller	....	grip
Elizabeth Miller	....	camera loader (as Elizabeth Smith)
James A. Miller	....	gaffer
David Morenz	....	first assistant camera
Melissa Moseley	....	still photographer
William R. Nielsen Jr.	....	camera operator (as Billy Nielson Jr.)
Richard Sobin	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Robert Swander	....	best boy electric
Dan Urbain	....	crane technician

Casting Department
Vanessa Baker	....	adr voice casting
Kim Coleman	....	casting associate
Brendan Donnison	....	adr voice casting
Vicki Jo Hertz	....	atmosphere casting assistant
Joan Philo	....	atmosphere casting
Claire Simon	....	casting: Chicago
Wendy Weidman	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jennifer Jobst	....	assistant costume supervisor
Margaret Morettini	....	assistant costume designer
Gina Panno	....	costumer
Heather Pollock	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Mags Arnold	....	first assistant editor
Songi Clarke	....	editor trainee
Penny Lee Hallin	....	assistant editor
Steve Harrow	....	post-production consultant
Kate Higham	....	first assistant editor
Gerald Morris	....	editor trainee
Dan Schalk	....	non-linear assistant editor
John Stanborough	....	color timer
Jennifer Stellema	....	apprentice editor
Victoria Stevens	....	second assistant editor: UK

Music Department
Tim Boot	....	music playback operator
John Cusack	....	music supervisor
Doug Dearth	....	music coordinator
D.V. DeVincentis	....	music supervisor
Robert Fernandez	....	music engineer
Michael Higham	....	supervising music editor
Gareth Jones	....	score engineer
Joe Lisanti	....	music editor
Joseph Magee	....	supervising production music engineer
Joseph Magee	....	supervising production music mixer
John Miller	....	score engineer
Kathy Nelson	....	music supervisor
Rick Norman	....	music engineer
Rick Norman	....	production music mixer
Steve Pink	....	music supervisor
Ed Rak	....	score engineer
Shari Schwartz	....	music editor
Howard Shore	....	conductor
Howard Shore	....	music arranger

Transportation Department
William T. Hogan III	....	transportation coordinator
A. Welch Lambeth	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Joan Altman	....	production accountant
Jennifer L. Bardin	....	assistant location manager
Brian Bartolini	....	production assistant
Tom Beaver	....	stand-in
Kenneth W. Bradley	....	production assistant
Anita Brongiel	....	production secretary
Robert F. Byrnes	....	medic
Michael D. Cronin	....	medic
Anne Devereux	....	assistant: Mr. Cusack
Demetra Diamantopoulos	....	location manager
Juliette Dow	....	assistant: Mr. Bevan
Rebecca Edelson	....	script clearance administrator
Josh Eggebeen	....	set production assistant: Chicago
John Ensby	....	laboratory contact
Deborah Evans	....	payroll accountant
Joanna S. Frank	....	production assistant (as Joanna Mickey)
Jane Frazer	....	executive: Working Title Films
Will Gatlin	....	craft service
Thomas J. Glynn	....	craft service assistant
Veloz Gomez	....	production assistant
Adam Graham	....	location assistant
Tarn Harper	....	post-production accountant
Susan Hegarty	....	dialect coach
Eric H. Heisner	....	production assistant (as Eric Heisner)
Anne Johns	....	production coordinator
Dena Johnson	....	title producer
Chiemi Karasawa	....	script supervisor
Nina Khoshaba	....	coordinator: Working Title
Dan Koretzky	....	production consultant
Grace Loh	....	coordinator: New Crime Productions
David Malley	....	production assistant
Scott A. Martin	....	stand-in: John Cusack
Richard Morrison	....	title designer
Patricia Newley	....	medic
Margaret J. Orlando	....	assistant production coordinator
Dawn Patch	....	production assistant
Ed Portoghise	....	production assistant
Edward J. Reardon	....	medic
Adam Rosen	....	production assistant
Jon Schluenz	....	production assistant
Louise Spencer	....	unit publicist
Jeff Sternberg	....	production assistant
Adrienne Swan	....	second assistant accountant
Paul Swann	....	laboratory contact
Emma Thomas	....	assistant: Mr. Frears
Connie Wang	....	assistant script clearance administrator
Dean Wares	....	title typography
Andy Wheeler	....	first assistant accountant
John David Wolfe	....	location assistant
Jenny Fumarolo	....	production assistant: additional (uncredited)
Andrew Novak	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Dogstar Films
• New Crime Productions
• Touchstone Pictures
• Working Title Films

Distributors

• Buena Vista Pictures (2000) (USA) (theatrical)
• Gaumont Buena Vista International (GBVI) (2000) (France) (theatrical)
• BVI / Kinekor Pictures (2000) (South Africa) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (Sweden) (2000) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International Spain (2000) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2000) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2001) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2000) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2001) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2001) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2001) (Italy) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Video (2001) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• RTL Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing) (RTL7)

Special Effects

• Double Negative (digital video effects)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Chicago Audio Works  sound transfer
• Chicago Studio City  lighting and grip
• Chicago Studio City  production offices
• Chicago Studio City  production services
• Chicago Studio MovieMakers  cast trailers
• Clinton Recording Studios  score recorded at
• De Lane Lea Sound Centre  sound re-recording
• Electric Audio Studio  music recorded at
• Entertainment Partners  payroll services
• Fig Productions  title sequence
• Hanna Brothers Catering  catering
• Hollywood Records  soundtrack published by
• London Editing Machines Ltd.  editing equipment
• Lyps Inc.  adr voice casting
• Magic Camera Company, The  film opticals
• Moving Picture Company (MPC)  title sequence: digital effects
• Sargent Disc  payroll
• Steeple Post Production Services  post-production
• Sylvia Wheeler Film Services  negative cutting
• Telefilm Video Services  telecine transfers

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English | Danish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Portugal:M/12 | Iceland:L | Malaysia:18PL | Malaysia:U (cut version) | USA:R (certificate #37241) | South Korea:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Brazil:14 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Denmark:A (DVD rating) | Finland:K-8 | France:U | Germany:12 (bw) | Netherlands:AL | New Zealand:M | Peru:14 | Singapore:M18 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Spain:7 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Buck Town, Lincoln Square, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Dogstar Films

Trivia:

A customer comes in asking for the record 'I Just Called to Say I Love You' - and gets hassled by Barry. Lisa Bonet (who plays Marie DeSalle) performed the same song on "The Cosby Show" (1984) in the episode 'A Touch of Wonder' (1986)

Goofs:

Errors in geography: While engaging in a monologue about his relationship woes, Rob boards a Purple Line Express train of the Chicago Transit Authority. The Purple Line Express boards at the Howard Station on the far north side of Chicago and does not stop until the Belmont Station in Lakeview. However, just after Cusack boards the train, it passes Lincoln Hand Laundry and Graceland Cemetery; thus he must have boarded in Edgewater, well before Belmont, despite the fact that the train he was on does not stop in that neighborhood. Moreover, the scene ends with the Purple Line train (the "Loop" destination indicator is visible behind his head) descending into the subway. However, the Purple Line Express does not use the subway, but rather the elevated tracks, going into the Loop and turning back around and proceeding back through the city into the north suburbs.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Rob: What came first, the music or the misery? People worry about kids playing with guns, or watching violent videos, that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands, literally thousands of songs about heartbreak, rejection, pain, misery and loss. Did I listen to pop music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to pop music?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Gilmore Girls: Lorelai's Graduation Day (#2.21)" (2002)

Soundtrack:

I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)

Music is the soundtrack to your life

And High Fidelity shows that this is more true for Rob Gordon (John Cusack) than most people. Rob owns Championship Vinyl, a record store where he and his two employees, Dick (Todd Louiso) and Barry (Jack Black), argue about music and insult customers. This is the background for a fantastic movie early in the year and one of the funniest movies I've seen in a while.

The movie's main plot is Rob recounting his past breakups via his favorite organizing device, the Top 5 List. He purposely excludes his most recent girlfriend, Laura, from it. He is trying to deal with her leaving him for a strange, world music-listening, martial arts-doing freak named Ian (Tim Robbins). Then he decides to look up all his old girlfriends, and in the process finds out a lot about himself.

The best scenes, however, are those in the record store - Todd Louiso and especially the utterly hilarious Jack Black steal every scene they're in. They argue over music incessantly, and anyone who knows a good deal about music will be laughing hysterically during these scenes. Dick is a quiet music geek in the classic sense of the word, while Barry is a cruel, ridiculous elitist.

In the end, High Fidelity is a wonderful, terribly funny movie with a lot of great stuff in it. See it.